Father Kuriakose Kattuthara, who was a witness in the rape case filed by a nun against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, was Monday found dead under "mysterious circumstances" in Dasuya in Punjab's Hoshairpur district, police said.

Kattuthara, 62, was found unconscious in his room this morning and was taken to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead, they said.

Police said the cause of the death would be known after postmortem.

According to police, no visible injury marks were found on the body.

There was vomit in the room, said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A R Sharma.

The viscera will be sent for examination which will throw light on the cause of the death, the DSP said.

Father Kattuthara was transferred 15 days back to the church at Dasuya, police said. He was staying in the premises of the church. A school is also located in the church premises at Dharampur in Dasuya.